Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how group-based exercise affects the levels of physical
activity, physical fitness and health- related quality of life (HRQoL) in
patients with chronic heart failure and comorbidities.
DESIGN: Randomized
controlled trial. PATIENTS: A total of 48 patients (10 women, 38 men), mean age
71 years (standard deviation 8 years), ejection fraction 27% (standard deviation
10%), and New York Heart Association functional class II-III. METHODS: A bicycle
test, 6-min walk test (6MWT) and muscle endurance tests were performed. Physical
activity was assessed with a pedometer and the International Physical Activity
Questionnaire (IPAQ), HRQoL was evaluated with the Short Form-36 (SF-36).
Patients were randomized to control or intervention groups. Intervention
consisted of an individually designed group-based exercise programme twice a
week, for a period of 3 months. Subjects in the control group were asked to
continue with their usual lives. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients completed the
study, and 6 dropped-out. Steps/day did not increase significantly after
intervention (p = 0.351), but IPAQ score did (p = 0.008). Exercise tolerance (p =
0.001), 6MWT (p = 0.014), shoulder abduction (p = 0.028), heel lift (p < 0.0001)
and HRQoL (p = 0.018) improved significantly in the intervention group compared
with the control group. CONCLUSION: Group-based exercise did not improve the
level of physical activity in patients with chronic heart failure and
comorbidity; however, physical fitness and HRQoL were significantly improved.

Langue : ANGLAIS